Who Needs Fire?

Wow, I am so relieved now! These past few weeks have been so difficult! I have been teaching a lot of hours and finishing paperwork for the study abroad program. But now, it is finally finished. As I type this, I am thinking about and praying for my students. Right now, they are taking the ACT exam. I am not allowed to be there, and it seems like the worst kind of torture. Over the past half-year I have really gotten to know and connect with my students. They have been such a blessing. After today, they and I will have a week break from school. I am really looking forward to it. I am planning to hang out with some of them during the break. It is a great chance to get to know them better and to talk about ‘life’ in general. I’m also planning to have a football tailgate party for them. I am looking forward to teaching them about this part of the culture. There will be projector, face-painting, one-syllable foods, and some awesome college football. One week from now, we will begin the fin

Lately, things have been more than just a little chaotic. First, we are coming to the end of our second level in the study abroad program. I am starting to go crazy with all of the paperwork that has been coming my way. We have to have it all turned in and finalized by next week. I have no idea how I am going to get it all done, but I’m going to somehow. Also, I have another problem. A few weeks ago I hurt my back playing basketball. One of my friends recommended that I go to see a traditional Chinese bone doctor. I did, and as a result it got so much worse. I was in bed for three days, unable to walk. Finally, I decided to go to Shanghai to see a western doctor. He took some x-rays and told me that I have two compressed discs in my lumbar area. One of those bulging discs just happens to be sitting right on top of my sciatic nerve. So, every once in a while I feel a lightning bolt shoot down my leg. He told me that it might take up to a month to recover. It is so not cool. To add insul